Perforating device



Feb. 5, 1946. w. J. HAMPTN PERFORATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 26, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 TT/P/VEKS Feb. 5, 1946. w. J. HAMPTON 2,394,377

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TTO/P/VVS Patented Feb. 5, 1946 PERFORATING DEVICE p William J. Hampton, South Euclid, Ohio, assigner Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation,

Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application December 26, 1944, Serial No. 569,771

17 Claims.

This invention relates to perforating devices of the character adapted t be hand-carried and operated.

The printing and control and like devices which are passed through addressing and like machines often have a plurality of index point positions defined therein by having perforations formed at predetermined positions and the index point positions are utilized in the machines through which the devices are passed to control whether or not operations are performed in the machines on or under control of the devices and such index point positions are utilized for other control operations. Often a card or the like is retained on the frame or carrier of the devices over a perforated area on the carrier and by selectively forming perforations in the card in alignment with the underlying portions in the carrier selected of the perforations in the carrier are rendered eifective to serve as index point positions or control means when the 'printing and control or like devices are passed through addressing or like machines.

Among the arrangements that have been proposed heretofore for perforating cards of the aforesaid character on printing and control or like devices is that disclosed in the copending application of Carl J. Hueber and Donald A. Stark, Ser. No. 525,712, filed March 9, 1934. The perforating device therein disclosed is of such nature that when material other than a perforatable card is interposed between the operative portions of the perforating device, the force-applying means effective on such operative portions yields so as to be ineffective to drive the operative portions into perforating relation with each other so that, therefore, a safety feature is incorporated in the perforating mechanism which operates as a function of the applied pressure.

While perforating devices of the aforesaid character have been found to be satisfactory in use, there are instances Where in order to insure against likelihood of damage to the frame or carrier of the printing and control or like device, it is desirablethat a safety feature be included in the perforating device that will be of such nature as to be a function of the position of the operative portions of the perforating device, for so to do will insure that unless the operative portions of the perforating device are in proper operative relation, no perforating operation will be eected and to enable this to be accomplished in a novel and expeditious manner is the primary object of the present invention.

The cards or the like which are included on printing and control devices to have perforations formed therein at selected positions are customarily much thinner than the frame or carrier of the device so that, therefore, if the operative portions of a perforating device embrace the carrier or frame therebetween rather than merely a card, the operative devices will be spaced further apart than such devices would be spaced if only the thickness of a card is interposed therebetween, and in view of this it is yet another object of this invention to so arrange a perforating device that eifective perforating pressure cannot be applied to the operative portions of the device so long as a greater thickness of material than is intended to be perforated by the device is interposed between the operative portions of the perforating device, and a further and more specic object is to insure that perforating pressure will be applied to the operative portions of a perforating device only when a card or the like of predetermined thickness is interposed between the operative portions of the device.

Yet other objects of this invention are toy interpose a novel lever systemv between the forceapplying and operative portions df a perforating device; to so arrange the lever system as to be operative to effect relative movement between the operative or perforating portions of a perforating device in order to bring such perforating portions into cooperating relation one with the other; to interpose an arrangement in a lever system of the aforesaid character of such nature as to afford relative movement between elements of the system when the perforating portions of the device are disposed in other than a predetermined relation; to so arrange the lever system that perforating force will not be transmitted therethrough to the perforating portions of the device until such perforating portions are disposed in predetermined relation one with the other; and to afford a fulcrum for the lever system about which a portion thereof may pivot when the perforating portions of the perforating device are in predetermined relation one with the other so as to thereby enable perforatinlr pressure to be exerted by the perforating portions of the perforating device.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by Way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment-and the principle thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which Ihave contemplated applying that principle. Other embodiments of the invention emboding the Ysanie or equivalent principle may be used and structural changes 'may be Y made as desired by those skilled in the art withlarged scale and taken substantially on the line c 3-3 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view drawnY to theV same scale :as Fig. 3 and which is taken substantially on the line 4 4 on Fig. 2;

Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical transverse sectional views taken substantially and respectively on the lines 5-5 andB-S on Fig. 4;

Figs. '1 and 8 are fragmentary views similar to Fig. 4 but showing certain of the elements in different operative positions; and y Fig. 9 is a, fragmentary elevational view of a printing and control device of the character with which the perforating device of this invention may be used.

The printing and control device fragmentarily illustrated in Fig. 9 of the accompanying drawings is of the character disclosed in the copending application of Carl J. Hueber, Ser. No. 596,991, led June 1, 1945, and is illustrative of devices of this character with which my invention may be used.

function to produce a perforation in the card as I5 in alignment with a particular opening as I2. In order to facilitate selection of the proper opening, numerical designations or thelike (such as are indicated by broken lines in Fig. 9) may be afforded on the card as I5 so as to be aligned with the openings I 2 when the card is retained on the frame or carrier I0. Once the'locating means included in my'novel perforating device has been seated in a selected opening as I2, the perforating device is operated to form a perforation in the card as I 5 in alignment with such particular opening as I2.

Under such circumstances, however, it is desirable that the perforating portions of a perforat- 'ing device Yof the character to which my invention relates be so arranged that perforating pressure will not be exerted thereby unless only the thickness of a card as I5 is interposed between such perforating portions, for so to do insures against injury to the frame or carrier as Ii) and this also insures'that a perforation will not be formed in the card as I5 except in alignment with an open` ing as I2. The novel perforating device lof this invention is arranged so as. to enable these and kindred desirable ends to be realized. 4

My novel perforating device as illustrated in the accompanying drawings includes a substan- As shown in Fig. 9, the printing and control device includes a carrier or frame I0 formed from sheet metal or the like. This carrier includes what is referred to as a selection section II `in which a plurality of openings I2 are afforded in predetermined relation one withV the other, the location of the openings I2 being such that when the printing and control device is disposed in a predetermined position in =an addressing or like printing machine, these perforations will be aligned with 'detecting pins or the like provided at the selection or detecting station in the machine. Customarily, as many openings I2 are provided as there are potential'positions at which detecting pins or the like may be provided, and in order that only selected one or ones of such perforations will be-eective, a card as I5 is disposed over the selection portion I I of the printing and control device; such card being releasably retained in position on the carrier of the device by the retaining clips as I3 and the upper bead as I4. Hence, by forming perforations in the card I5 in alignment with selected one orones of the openings I2 only selected one or ones'of these openings enable detecting pins or the like to pass therethrough, and in this way particular characteristics are imparted to each particular printing and control device, such characteristics being utilized, for example, in the printing and like machines through which these devices are passed to determine whether or not impressions are to be made from the printing and control or like devices as these pass throughv the machine, and also to control other operations of the machine.

As stated hereinabove, my invention has to do with a perforating device that may be used to form perforations in a card as I5, and inasmuch 'as openings as I2 will commonly be provided,

my novel perforating device includes locating means adapted to seat in such an opening to thereby accurately orient the perforating device sp as to insure that the perforating device will tially U-shaped frame I6 desirably formed from sheet metal bent into such configuration, the bight of such configuration being adapted to be arranged at the rear end of the perforating device or punch of this invention. A guide frame generally indicated by I1= is disposed between, and extends forwardly from, the free ends of' the limbs of the substantially U-shaped frame I5 and Yis suitably connected` thereto as by rivets I8, the

forward endsof such limbs being seated in rabbetted'portions in the frame I1 as best shown in Y Fig. 3.

The guide frame I1l includes spaced apart ledges 29 and 29' (Fig. 4) interconnected by a rear wall I9 to thereby define a jaw I9. A lug 23 is formed on the frame I1 beneath the ledge 29' and a punch generally indicated by 2-I is passed through an opening 2 I in the ledge 29 and has a threaded reduced portion 22 that is passed through a tapped opening 23' in the lug 23, Ia lock nut 24 cooperating with the threaded portion 22 and the lug 23 to retain the punch 2| in adjusted positions. The punch 2I includes a reduced upper end portion 20 which functions as the punch member of y my perforating apparatusand this reduced porf` tion 20 also serves asa locating means 'adapted for cooperation with the openings I2 as will be explained in detail hereinafter. The die of my perforating device which is adapted for Ycooperation with the punch member 2U is in the form of a. hollow'pin 25, the punch member 20 passing into th'e'bore in the pin to form a perforation in a'card I5 or the like. The slug that is thus punched out ofthe card I5 is adapted to pass upwardly through the bore 53 in the pin 25 to be discharged from my'perforating apparatus as will be explained further hereinafter. A guide bearing 26 is formed in the frame I1 in alignment with an opening 21. in the ledge 29 and these openings are arranged in axial alignment with the openingsl 2|' and 23'. The hollow pin or die member 25 is mounted for reciprocationV in the guide bearing 26 and the opening 21. Y

Reciprocatory movement` is imparted tothe hollow pin 25 through two parallel levers 29 that are pivotally mounted on aV pin- 30 carried by' the levers 29.

frame I1, recesses as 32, Fig. 5, being formed in the pin 25 to receive the rounded end portions 3| at the free forward ends of the arms of the Reciprocation of the levers 29 about the pin 36 eiects reciprocation of the hollow pin 25 to enable the lower end thereof to be moved to and from cooperating relation with the punch member 26. Reciprocatory movement is imparted to the levers 29 and thence to the die member or hollow pin 25 from an operating lever 33 that Vis adapted to be grasped and moved when a perforation is to be formed in a card as I5.

The operating lever 33 is mounted in the lower part of the frame I6 for pivotal movement about the pin 34 carried by the frame I1. A bracket 35 is secured to the lever 33 inwardly and substantially midway between the ends thereof as by being spot-welded thereto. The bracket 35 includes an upright portion 31 which extends upwardly into the frame I6. A crosspiece 39 extends between the limbs of the frame I6 near the bight of the frame and a spring 46 is extended between this crosspiece 39 and the upper end of the upright portion 31, this spring being effective to urge the lever 33 outwardly away from the frame I6. Such outward movement of the lever 33 is limited by a lug 54 formed on the rear end thereof and disposed to overlie the ledge 55 on the shell 56 secured to the frame I6 as explained in greater detail hereinafter.

When the lever 33 is disposed in the position thereof shown in Fig. 4, the die member 25 is disposed in the retracted position thereof and movement of the lever 33 inwardly of the frame I6 is effective to move the die member or hollow pin 25 from this retracted position toward the punch member 26 and such inward movement is also effective to apply perforating pressure on the hollow pin 25 when this pin is in predetermined relation with the punch member 26.

To this end upstanding lugs 38 are formed on the :bracket 35 and a pin 45 extends between and is supported by these lugs. Another pin 43 extends between the levers 29 inwardly of the pin 36 about which the levers 29 pivot. A pair of links 44 are pivotally mounted on the projecting ends of the pin 43 and outside of the levers 29 andthese links have corresponding slots 46 therein through which the projecting ends of the pin 45 are passed so that the lever 33 is connected to the levers 29 through the links 44. The spring 46 is eiective to urge the pin 45 toward the bottom of the slots 46 and this, in turn, is effective through the links 44 and levers 29 to urge the die member 25 into its upper retracted position.

A pin 48 is extended between said links 44 and an arm or strut 41 depends from this pin. A spring 56 is extended between the strut 41 and a spring anchor on the upstanding portion 31 and this spring is effective to urge the arm 41 counterclockwise as viewed, for example, in Fig. 4. The various elements are disposed in the positions thereof shown in Fig. 4 under the inuence of the spring 46 and under such circumstances the strut 41 is disposed in the at rest position thereof.

A cam surface 49 is formed on the upper end of the strut 41 and is adapted for cooperation with the pin 42 extended between the tail portions of the levers 29 that are provided at the inner ends of these levers, the pin 42 serving as n so doing causes the levers 29 to rock about the pin 36 and thereby the die member or hollow pin 25 is advanced toward the punch member 26.

If, in the course of advancing movement of the hollow pin 25 toward the punch member 26, anything thicker than the card I5 is interposed between this hollow pin and punch member, movement of the hollow pin is interrupted and in such circumstances the pin 45 moves from the lower .end of the slots 46, where it is normally disposed,

through the slots 46 and no further advancing movement is imparted to the hollow pin 25. When this occurs, the links 44 merely pivot about the pin 43, and since the spring-induced movements of the hollow pin 25 and the levers 29 have been stopped, the strut 41 remains in an ineffective relation such as that shown in Fig. 6. For example, in Fig, 7 the punch member 26 has not been disposed in an opening I2, and therefore the thickness of the frame or carrier I6 combined with the thickness of the card I5 is interposed between the hollow pin 25 and the punch member 26, and it is in circumstances such as this that further advancing movement of the hollow pin 25 is interrupted.

When, however, the punch member 26 is disposed in an opening I2, so as to thereby serve as a locating means, only the thickness of a card I5 is interposed between the leading end of the hollow pin 25 and the punch member 26, and

lwhen material of such thickness is interposed between this pin and punch member, the strut 41 will have moved counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 4, to dispose the notch 52 in the lower end thereof in alignment with vthe fulcrum 5I aiorded by an upstanding portion formed on the bracket 35. Such disposition of the notch 52 on the fulcrum 5I establishes a direct connection between the operating lever 33 and the levers 29 through the strut 41 with the result that the last part of the movement of the lever 33 inwardly of the frame I6 is directly transmitted to the levers 29 and therefore the hollow pin 25, and such direct'I connection enables perforating force to be extended by the hollow pin 25, wherefore the punch member 20 moves into the hollow pin or die member so as to thereby punch a. slug from the portion of the card as I5 in alignment with the opening I2 in which the punch member 26 is disposed. The slug that is so punched from the card I5 may be forced upwardly through the hollow pin 25 by similar slugs so punched from cards as I5 so as to thereby enable such slugs to be discharged from my perforating device through the opening 53.

It will therefore be nseen that only when material of predetermined thickness is disposed between the die member 25 and the punch member 26 is perforating pressure directly transmitted from the operating lever 33 to the die member so as to thereby enable perforating force to be exerted on the material disposed between the die and punch members. This accrues because the position of the strut 41 is a function of the relative positions of the punch and die elements, and primarily the position of the die element, and the relative position ofthese elements which enable the strut 41 to cooperate with the fulcrum 5I is that determined rby the thickness of a card as I5.

It will be understood that my novel Vperforating device is not necessarily limited to use with an arrangement includingv a carrier as It. al. though my novel perforating device may be advantageously used with such a carrier since so to do insures against injury toy such a carrierv and* also to the perforating device. Y

In order that my novel perforating device may be hand-carried and operated and to impart an attractive appearance thereto, a substantially cup-shaped shell 58 is disposed to extend over and enclose the upper portions of the frames IS and l1' which together constitute the frame of myv perforating device. The upper edge of the frame I6 is rabbeted to receive the free edges of the cup-shaped shell 58 which are arranged to clampingly engage the frame of my device. I Furthermore, another substantially cup-shaped shell 5l is, disposed to enclose the lower portions of the frames t6 and ll, and this shell also hasgthe free edges thereof clamping engaged in a rabbeted portion of the frame i6; The shell-56 has an opening yin the bottom wall thereof through which the lever 33y extends. Y

Furthermore, the lever 3 is substantially cupshaped so that this lever in cooperation with the shells 55 and 58 completely encloses the operating parts of my perforating device, and such shells and lever are desirably of such conguration as to impart an attractive appearance to my perforating device.

It will lbe manifest in the foregoing descrip tion that a perforating device arranged in the manner hereinabove described enables the above set forth and kindred objects of the invention to be realized. Moreover, while I have illustrated and described a selected embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modication and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such` changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:v 1. A perforating device for sheets or the lik comprisingv a frame, a jaw at one end of the frame, a reciprocable tool extending into the jaw, lever means pivoted on the frame, means connected to the tool, andmeans connecting the lever means for the transmission of force therebetween, the effectiveness of said means to transmit such force being a function ofthe position of the tool in the jaw.

2.- A perforating device for sheetsor the like comprising a frame, a sheet-receiving jaw at one end of the frame, a reciprocable tool extending into the jaw, lever means'pivoted on the frame, lever means connected to the tool,V means connecting the lever means for the transmission of force therebetween and including resilient means for transmitting the force for a predetermined range of movement o-f the tool, and a rigid means for transmitting the force for another predetermined range of movement .of the tool.

3. A perforating device for sheetsor the `-like comprising a frame, a sheet-receiving jaw at one end of the frame, a reciprocable tool extending into the jaw, an operating leverv pivoted on the frame, a lever connected to the tool, means connecting the levers for effecting reciprocation of the tool including a retraction link for moving the tool into a retracted position, resilient means continuously urging the operating lever and retraction link to a position corresponding to the retracted position of the tool, resilient means operative between the operating lever and tool lever tor transmitting thrust from the. lever to the .tool to project the tool into the jawL a rigid strut for levers for the transmission of force therebetween and including a pivoted strut for. at .times e'ecting a rigid connection between the levers, and means for controlling the effectiveness of the strut to transmit force as a Vfunction of the posiV Y tion of the tool relative to the frame. Y

5.; A perforating device for sheets or the like comprising a frame, a sheet-receiving jaw at one end of the. frame, a reciprocable tool extending into the jaw, a lever pivoted on the frame, a lever `connected to the tool, and means connecting the levers for the transmission of force therebetween,

said means including'a link for vreti-acting the tool, a pivoted strut for at times electing arigid connection between the levers to project the tool into the jaw, and means for'controllingthe veffectiveness of the strut to transmit force as a function of the position of the toolrelative to the frame. Y

6. A perforating device for sheets or the like comprising a frame, a. sheet-receiving jaw at one end of the frame, a reciprocable tool extending into. the Vjaw, a lever pivoted on the frame, a lever connected to the tool, and means connecting the levers for the transmission ofv force therebetween, said means including a link for retracting the tool, a strut pivoted on the link for at times eiectinga rigid connection between the levers to project the tool into the jaw, and means for controlling the effectiveness of the strut to transmit force ras a function of the position of the tool relative to the frame. Y

T. A perforating device for sheets or the like comprising a frame, a'sheet-receiving jaw at one end of the frame, a reciprocable tool extending into the jaw, a lever pivoted in the frame, a lever connected to the tool, and means connecting the levers for thetransmission of force therebetween, said means including a pivoted strut for at times eectng a rigid connection between the levers, cam-and-follower means between the strut and the tool lever, and resilient means for maintaining contact between the cam* and follower such that the strutis constrained to move as a function of the position of the tool relative to the frame.

8. A perforating device for sheets or the like comprising a frame, a sheet-receiving jaw at; one end of the frame, a reciprocable tool extending into the jaw, a lever pivoted on the frame, and means connecting the levers for the transmission of force therebetween, said means including a link, pivoted Aconnections between the links fand levers, and means on the tool lever cooperating with the. strutfor controlling the effectiveness of the strut to transmit force as a function of the lil.y A perforating device as described in claimV Srwherein the meanscooperating with the strut comprises a cam andfollower and resilient means for maintainingcontact between the cam and follower. i y Y 11. A perforatlng device for perforating one of two superimposed sheets comprising a frame, a jaw at the end of the frame for receiving the superimposed sheets, a tool reciprocable into the jaw to contact and eect a perforation of one of said sheets, a hand operable lever pivot-ed on the frame, a spring means urging the hand lever away from the frame, a lever connected to the tool, and means connecting the levers for the transmission of force therebetween7 said means including a link for retracting the tool away from the sheets, a yieldable connection for advancing the tool toward the sheets, and a rigid connection for effecting the perforation of the said one of the two sheets.

12. A perforating device as described in claim 11 wherein the rigid connection comprises a strut pivoted on the link, and means on the tool lever for controlling the movement of the strut such that said strut is ineffective tc provide a rigid connection when it is attempted to perforate both sheets.

13. In a perforating device for perforating one of two superimposed sheets of which one has at least one perforation formed therein, a frame, a jaw at one end of the frame for receiving the superimposed sheets, a punching element at one side of the jaw adapted to be disposed in an opening in said one sheet to thereby align a predetermined portion of the other sheet with the punching elements of the perforating device, another punching element on the other side of said jaw and adapted for cooperation with the firstnamed punching element to perforate a sheet disposed between such elements, and means for advancing the second named punching element toward the rst named punching element` to thereby perforate the portion of the sheet disposed between such elements, one of such elements having an opening extending therethrough and into one end of which the other element is adapted to pass in perforating the sheet, such opening being adapted to receive the slug punched from the sheet to thereby enable discharge of such slug from the perforating device.

14. In a perforating device for perforating one of two superimposed sheets of which one has at least one perforation formed therein, a frame, a jaw at one end of the frame for receiving the superimposed sheets, a punching element at one side of the jaw adapted to be disposed in an opening in said one sheet to thereby align a predetermined portion of the other sheet with the punching elements of the perforating device, another punching element on the other side of said jaw and adapted for cooperation with the firstnamed punching element to perforate a sheet disposed between such elements, and means for advancing the second named punching element toward the rst named punching element to thereby perforate the portion of the sheetA disposed between such elements and including normally ineiective means for transmitting perforating pressure to said second named punching element and means for rendering said last-mentioned means effective only when said punching elements are in predetermined relation one with the other.

15. In a perforating device for perforating one of two superimposed sheets of which one has at least one perforation formed therein, a frame, a jaw at one end of the frame for receiving the superimposed sheets, a punching element at one side of the jaw adapted to be disposed in an opening in said one sheet to thereby align a predetermined portion of the other sheet with the punching elements of the perforating device, another punching element on the other side of said jaw and adapted for cooperation with the rst named punching element to perforate a sheet disposed between such elements, and means for advancing the second named punching element toward the rst named punching element to thereby periorate the portion of the sheet disposed between such elements and including an operating lever and means for directly connecting said operating lever to said second named punching element when said punching elements are in predetermined relation one with the other.

16. In a device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the means for directly connecting the operating lever to the second named element is mounted for movement in said perforating device, and means in said perforating device for transmitting movement of said operating lever to said second named punching element and to the means directly connecting the operating lever to the second named punching element whereby such means are disposed in a predetermined position in the course of movement of said operating lever to be effective to directly interconnect the operating lever and the second named punching element.

17. In a device as claimed in claim 15 wherein means are provided for normally disposing the second named punching element in a retracted position away from the rst named punching element and wherein other means are provided for transmitting movement of the operating lever to the second named punching element and the means for directly connecting the operating lever to the second named punching element to thereby be effective to move the second named punching element into predetermined relation with the rst named punching element and thereby dispose the means for directly connecting the operating lever to the second named punching element in position to directly interconnect such lever and element.

WILLIAM J. HAMPTON. 

